Propulsion fin for a floating body

ABSTRACT

A propulsion fin for a floating body comprises a flat member adapted to be coupled externally to said body and extends, when at rest, in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of forward movement of said body, said member being intended to oscillate with a propulsive action during operation and comprising a diaphragm supported by a rigid frame coupled to said body, said frame extending laterally and towards the rear and being open at the rear so that the rear edge of the diaphragm is free, said diaphragm being constructed and mounted so as to be elastically deformable and having, when at rest, a mean position on said frame in which it is stretched with a pre-determined tension, and is mounted angularly movable on the frame in such manner as to move, during operation, from one side of said mean position to the other between two extreme positions in which the tension of the diaphragm is greater than said pre-tension, and in which the diaphragm is inflated in the form of a pocket and makes an angle with said mean position, starting from the frame. The invention is particularly applicable to floating bodies for water sports.

COWL FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR Cowls have been employed on outboard motors toprotect the engine from the elements and the boat occupants from anycontact with the engine. Various types of cowls have previously beenemployed.

However, the previously available cowls have been mounted on the engineso that access to a portion of the engine is blocked by a portion of thecowl after the readily removable portions of the cow] have been removed.Thus, the previously available cowls have necessitated furtherdisassembly of the outboard motor beyond mere removal of the cow] forone to have access to any portion of the engine.

Additionally, the previously available cowls had to be partially removedto permit access to make adjustments to the carburetor. Thus, partialdisassembly of the cowl has previously been necessary to makeadjustments to adjustable elemtns such as the carburetor idle, which arelocated on the front of the engine.

The present invention satisfactorily overcomes the foregoing problems byproviding a cowl which is formed so that all portions of the engine areaccessible when the cowl is removed. There is no'requirement for anyfurther dissassembly of the engine from the driveshaft housing as withthe previously available cowls. The unique configuration of the cowl ofthe present invention also enables one to be able to make adjustments toany of the adjustable elements on the front of the engine without havingto remove the complete cowl. It is only necessary to remove a releasablefront shield or cover.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved cowl for anoutboard motor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cowl for an outboardmotor in which all the parts of the cowl can be quickly and easilyremoved.

Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from thefollowing description, claims, and

drawings.

This invention relates to an outboard motor including a driveshafthousing, an engine supported on the driveshaft housing, and a cowlsurroundingtheengine. The cowl comprises a pair of members connected toeach other adjacent their rear ends with their front ends spaced fromeach other and releasably connected by suitable means. The members arereleasably supported on the engine by means to provide the sole supportfor the members directly on the engine.

This invention also relates to a cowl for surrounding an engineincluding first and second members surrounding portions of the engineand means to connect the rear ends of each of the first and secondmembers to each other. The members are releasably supported on theengine by means. The membershave their front ends spaced from each otherto permit access to the front of the engine when the members are insurrounding relation to the engine with the spaced front ends of themembers being releasably connected to each other vby suitable means.

. outboard motor with which the cowl of the present invention isemployed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing afront cover or shield removed;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the cowl as viewedfrom the inside of the cowl and showing the hinged relation of themembers of the cowl to the rear bracket of the cowl;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the two members of the cowl;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of a rear frame of the supportassembly for the cowl;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 and showingthe relation of portions of the members of the cowl to the top bracketof the support as sembly for the cowl;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2 and showingthe relation of portions of the members of the cowl to the top bracketof the support assembly for the cowl;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a front plate, its sealing relationshipwith portions of the members of the cowl, and the latching arrangementfor the front shield or cover of the cowl;

'7 FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of a resilient element forsecuring the front portions of the members of the cowl to each other;and

FIG. 11 is a sectional viewtaken along line l1ll of FIG. 4 andshowingthe relationship of the members and the rear bracket of the cowlto each other when the cowl is in its enclosing position.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 2, there is shown anengine 10 of an outboard motor with the engine 10 supported on adriveshaft housing 11 (see FIG.-1). As shown in FIG. 1, theengine 10 isenclosed by a cow] assembly 12.

The cowl assembly 12 includes a pair of members 14 and 15, which form aclam shell. As shown in FIG. 5 for the member 14 (the members 14 and 15are mirror images), each of the members 14 and 15 includes a main sideportion 16, a rear portion 17, a top portion 18, a

front portion 19, a lower portion 20, and a depending side portion 20.When the cowl assembly 12 is in its surrounding relation to the engine10 as shown in FIG.

' 1, the rear portions 17 of the members 14 and 15 abut againstoppositesides of a rear bracket 21 (see FIgS. 4 and 11).

The rear portions 17 are releasably connected to the rear bracket 21 byhinge means. The hinge means includes a pair of vertically spacedapertured ears 22 (see FIG. 5) on the member 14, a pair of verticallyspaced apertured ears (not shown) on the member 15 but positioned thesame as the ears 22 on the member 14, and a pair of vertically spacedhinge members 24 (see FIG. 4) on the rear bracket 21.

Each of the hinge members 24 includes a base 25, which is secured to therear bracket 21 by bolts 26 and nuts 27. Each ot the bases 25 has a pairof upper hollow loops 28 and a pair of lower hollow loops 29.

Each of the upper hollow loops 28 is vertically aligned with one of thelower hollow loops 29. A hinge pin 30 extends between the aligned hollowloops 28 and 29. Each of the hinge pins 30 has an opening therein toreceive a bolt 31, which is passed through one of the apertured ears 22on the member 14 or one of the apertured ears (not shown) on the member15. Each of the bolts 31 has nut 32 cooperating therewith.

Accordingly, each of the members 14 and 15 can pivot about the verticalaxes of the hinge pins 30 to PAIENTED NOV 20 1915 3373011 SHEET 10F 4SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEU Nov 2 0 ms PATENTED RUY 2 0 I973 SHEET 30F 4 FIG.

PAIENIEunuv20 ms 3713011 SHEET [1F 4 F/GM I l PROPULSION FIN FOR AFLOATING BODY The present invention relates to a propulsion fin for afloating body, comprising a flat member which is intended to be coupledexternally to the said body and which, when at rest, extendssubstantially in a plane parallel to the direction of forward movementof the said body, the said member moving with a propulsive action duringthe course of operation, for example when the said body is allowed tooscillate.

A tin of this kind is described in French Pat. No. 1,322,642 of thepresent applicant and in the first Certificate of Addition No. 82,572attached to this patent.

Interesting results can be obtained with theobject described in thisFrench Patent and its Certificate of Addition, but in generalstarting-off is rather slow and the forward speed is fairly low. Theapplicant has made efforts in particular to improve the propulsioncapacityv of the fin, and after numerous tests and researches, it hasbeen found that considerably improved performances can be obtained whenthe fin consists of a deformable diaphragm elastically stretched over arigid frame in such manner as to be capable of being inflated in theform of a pocket alternatively on one side or on the other.

The present invention has for its object a propulsion fin for a floatingbody, characterized in that it comprises a diaphragm supported by arigid frame which is intended to be coupled to the said body, the saidframe extending laterally and towards the rear and being open at therear in such manner that the rear edge of the said diaphragm is free,the said diaphragm being constructed and mounted so as to be elasticallydeformable and having, in the position of rest, a mean position on theframe in which it is stretched with a pre-determined tension, the saiddiaphragm being mounted angularly movable on the frame so as to bedisplaced, in operation, on each side of the said mean position, betweentwo extreme positions at which the tension of the diaphragm is greaterthan the said pre-tension and in which the diaphragm is inflated in theform of a pocket and makes from the start of the frame, an angle withthe said mean position.

The said floating body is preferably permittedto oscillate by pitchingwith a downward plunging movement towards the front and a tail-downmovement towards the rear, the said frame and the said diaphragmextending in a position of rest in a substantally horizontal frame.

The fin according to the invention provides a substantial propulsiveeffect from the start, this being true both for the tail-down andnose-down positions, because the deformation to a pocket of thediaphragm assists the horizontal component of the forces in thedirection of forward movement. The fin makes it possible to obtain highforward speeds, and in particular speeds of the order of 4 to 6 km. perhour.

The fin may be of the caudal type and in this case, the frame haspreferably the shape of a fork with two arms and a central couplinghandle to the floating body, each arm having a main front portionleaving the handle and extending laterally and towards the rear, and arear end portion substantially parallel to the direction of forwardmovement.

The fin may also be lateral, and in this case, a supporting means isassociated with the frame and/or with the floating body and serves tostretch the diaphragm.

The present invention has also for its object a floating body providedwith at least one fin such as previously described, this floating bodybeing intended to be ridden by a user like a horse. The floating body ischaracterized in that it has a generally domed shape similar to that ofa quarter of an orange, with a rising central portion which is straddledby the user and two lower end portions intended to remain continouuslysubmerged during the course of the oscillations impressed on thefloating body by the user in order to move the body for ward.

Such a shape of the floating body has proved to be particularlyeffective for propulsion. In particular, the almost continuoussubmersion of the body, especially at the front and the rear, during theoscillations, permits a stabilization of the centre of thrust of thebody, to the advantage of the operation.

The floating body preferably comprises, at the bottom of its centralportion, two long lateral profiles parallel to the direction of forwardmovement, forming foot-rests and having a function of guiding andstabilization.

Forms of embodiment of the invention are described below by way ofexample, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a caudal fin according to the invention, this finbeing in the position of rest;

FIG. 2 is a view of this fin in cross-section, taken along the line IIIIof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the said fin in cross-section, taken along thechain-dotted line III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but in which the fin occupies one ofits positions in which it is inflated in the form of a pocket;

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section taken along the chain-dotted line VIVIof FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows to a larger scale a pivotal mounting of the diaphragm onthe frame;

FIGS. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are views similar to FIG. 1, but which relaterespectively to four alternative forms;

FIG. 12 shows a plan view of two lateral fins in the position of rest;

FIG. 13 is a view in cross-section taken along the chain-dotted lineXIIIXIII of FIG. 12, the fins being in the position inflated as apocket;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of a floating bodyprovided with fins according to the invention;

. tral handle 14 for coupling to the floating body. Each arm 12 or 13has a main portion 15 which is inclined to one side and towards therear, and a rear transverse portion 16 substantially parallel to thedirection of forward movement. It will be noted that the frame 11 isopen at the rear.

The diaphragm 10 is constructed and mounted in such manner as to beelastically deformable and has, when at rest, a mean position on theframe 10 in which it is stretched with a pre-determined tension.

FIGS. l5, l6, l7, l8, l9 and 20 illustrate various pha- In the exampleshown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the diaphragm 10 is composed of two flexiblelateral portions 17 and 18 and a central portion 19 formed by an elasticfabric. The portions 17, 18 and 19 may be assembled together by anyappropriate means, for example the portion 19 may be double and fixed bya seam at 20 to the portions 17 and 18.

The diaphragm 10 is mounted so as to be angularly movable on the frame11. For example, the front edge of the diaphragm is made tubular at 21.(see FIG. 7) and is pivotally mounted with play on the frame 11 for arotating movement of the diaphragm 10 at that place. It will beappreciated that the pivotal movement of the diaphragm 10 on the frameis carried out under excellent conditions, although the arms 12 and 13are neither straight nor coaxial, due to the fact that the diaphragm 10is deformable.

With this arrangement, the diaphragm 10 moves, during operation, on eachside of the meansposition between two extreme positions 10a and 10b (seeFIG. 6) which are more or less distant from this mean position,depending on the tilting torque. In each extreme position, the tensionof the diaphragm 10 is greater than the pre-tension in the mean positionand the diaphragm is inflated in the form of a pocket (see in particularFIGS. and 6). In each extreme position, starting from the frame 11, thediaphragm forms an angle A (FIGS. 5 and 6) with the mean position.

It will be observed from FIG. 1 that the rear edge of the diaphragmcomprises a strip 22 free from any mounting on the frame 11 and forminga free flap. There can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the line L inchaindotted lines which separates the diaphragm proper from the flap 22.The line L has a slightly elbowed general shape. It will be noted fromFIG. 1 that the section line III-III is substantially coincident withthe line L.

It can be seen from FIG. 5 that in the extreme position of the diaphragm10 inflated like a pocket, the flap 22 forms an inflexion with therunning portion of the diaphragm 10. This flap 22 has the function of atrailing edge and ensures continuity of the streams of liquid bypreventing a return of liquid towards the front.

It will also be noted from FIGS. 1 to 6 that the diaphragm 10 isadvantageously made of a sheet material of constant thickness and isprovided with stiffening ribs 23 parallel to the direction of forwardmovement. In an alternative form, the stiffening may be obtained by agradual variation of the thickness of the diaphragm. It will beappreciated that the stiffening means by ribs 23 or the like extend oneach side of the line L, which enables excellent continuity of theworking profile to be obtained.

The fin, such as this has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7is a caudal fin adapted to be arranged to the rear of a floating body.

When this floating body is permitted to oscillate while pitching with anose-down movement towards the front and a tail-down movement towardsthe rear, the fin moves with a particularly effective propulsive actionboth for the tail-down and nose-down positions, enabling it to effect animmediate start and to obtain a high forward speed, in particular of theorder of 4 to 6 km. per hour.

In the example of FIGS. 1 to 7, the diaphragm is com posed of twoflexible portions 17 and 19 and an elastic portion 19, but the diaphragmmay also be made uniformly elastic, as shown at 10 in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, the elastic fabric 10 may also be replaced, on theone hand by a system of elastic threads 19" coupling together theflexible portions 17 and 18, and on the other hand by a simple centralclosure portion 19",. The diaphragm can be seen at 10'.

In FIG. 1, each arm 15 is substantially straight, but the arms may alsobe provided in an arcuate form at 15" as has been shown in FIG. 10. Thediaphragm can be seen at 10".

In another alternative form shown in FIG. 1 1, the diaphragm shown at10", comprises a flexible nonextensible panel 24 articulated at 25 on apart of the frame 11, and coupled by elastic lacing 26 to another partof the frame.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 12 and 13, in which the arrangementis similar to those which have just been described, but in which the finis not a caudal but a lateral fin.

In the example of FIG. 12, two lateral fins are provided. A supportingmeans 27 is preferably associated with the frame and/or with thefloating body and serves to stretch the diaphragm. For example, eachframe, indicated by 111, receives an auxiliary rod 27 which extendsalong the floating body and which serves to stretch the diaphragm,designated by 110. In FIG. 12, the fins are shown in the position ofrest, and in FIG. 13 in the position inflated as a working pocket.

The lateral fins described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 also makeit possible to obtain an effective propulsive effect.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 14, in which there is shown at 28 afloating body for a water sports game intended to be ridden astn'de by auser and having at the rear a caudal fin 10 such as that which has beendescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, and at the front two lateralfins such as those which have been described with reference to FIGS. 12and 13.

The floating body 28 has a generally domed shape similar to that of aquarter of an orange with a raised central portion 29 which is straddledby the user, and two extreme portions 30 and 31 which are lower and areintended to remain continuously submerged during the course of theoscillations of the body 28. It will be understood that the body 28 iswider at the top than at the bottom.

At the bottom of its central protion, the body 29 further comprises twolong lateral profiled members 32 parallel to the direction of forwardmovement. Each member 32 is composed of an upper portion 32a inclineddownwards and towards the exterior, and a lower horizontal portion 32b.The profiled members form, on the one hand guides for maintaining thedirection of forward movement, and on the other hand they constitutefoot-rests at 32b. It will be appreciated that the members 32 have astabilizing effect against a pitching movement or pounding, and, byvirtue of the length, enable the feet to be placed either towards thefront or the rear or in the centre at the will of the user.

There can be seen in FIG. 15 a device in the position of rest, in whichthe fins 10 and 110 are flat and horizontal.

In FIG. 16, the user begins a nose-down movement, of which thecompletion of travel is shown in FIG. 17.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, the user leans back by a taildown movement and thereis shown in FIG. 20 the device at the end of the tail-down movement andat the beginning of another nose-down operation.

There will be observed from'FIGS. 16 to 20 the inflated shapes in theform of a pocket taken by the fins and 110.

It will be understood that the improved qualities of the floating bodyand the fins permit a harmonious equilibrium of the effort required fromthe user for the nose-down and tail-down movements, which both ensure apropulsive effect and may have substantially the same duration.

It will be noted that the front fins 110 could be replaced by rigidlateral ailerons froming simple stabilizers. These ailerons may beshaped in the form of a shovel and may be mounted with a slight dihedronto the horizontal.

What I claim is:

1. A propulsion fin for a floating body comprising a rearwardly openingrigid forked frame, an elastically deformable diaphragm stretched acrossthe frame under an initial tension to normally maintain the diaphragm ina flat median position substantially coplanar with the frame, saiddiaphragm being pivotably mounted on the frame to rotate relative to theframe to positions on each side of said median position in which anangle is formed by the diaphragm at its attachment with the framerelative to the plane of the frame and in which the diaphragm isoutwardly bulged forming a pocket under tension greater than the initialtension.

2. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 1, in combination with afloating body on which the forked frame is secured.

3. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, wherein the floating body isadapted to be pitched alternately nosedown towards the front andtail-down towards the rear causing the fin to oscillate to saidpositions thereby effecting forward movement.

4. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stripdisposed along the rear edge of the diaphragm and forming a free flap.

5. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 3, in which the diaphragm isattached to the frame by a tubular sleeve.

6. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, in which said diaphragmcomprises at least one elastic portion allowing expansion thereof.

7. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 6, in which the diaphragm alsocomprises at least one flexible portion.

8. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 7, in which said elastic portioncomprises an elastic fabric fixed to said flexible portion.

9. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 7, in which said elastic portioncomprises at least one elastic thread connection.

10. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 6, in which a panel of thediaphragm is pivotally mounted on one portion of said frame and coupledby elastic lacing to another portion of said frame.

11. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 6, in which said diaphragm isentirely elastic.

12. A propulsion finas claimed in claim 2, in which said fin is of thecaudal type in which the forked frame is joined to a central shaft forsecuring the frame to said floating body and in which each branch of thefork has a main portion extending from the shaft laterally andrearwardly and a rear projecting terminal portion substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the floating body.

13. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 12, in which said main portionis substantially linear.

14. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 12, in which said main portionis curved.

15. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 1, in which said fin is of thelateral type, and in which supporting means is associated with saidframe for stretching said diaphragm.

16. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, in which said fin is of thelateral type and further comprising a supporting means associated withsaid floating body and adapted to stretch said diaphragm.

17. A floating body provided with at least one propulsion fin as claimedin claim 2, to be ridden astride by a user, said body having a generallydomed shaped similar to that of a quarter of an orange, with a raisedcentral portion straddled by the user and two lower end portions toremain continuously submerged during the course of the oscillationsimparted by the user to said floating body for the forward propulsion ofsaid body.

18. A floating body as claimed in claim 17, and further comprising, atthe bottom of its central portion, two long lateral profiled membersparallel to the longitudinal axis of floating body providing footrestsand guiding and stabilizing said body.

1. A propulsion fin for a floating body comprising a rearwardly openingrigid forked frame, an elastically deformable diaphragm stretched acrossthe frame under an initial tension to normally maintain the diaphragm ina flat median position substantially coplanar with the frame, saiddiaphragm being pivotably mounted on the frame to rotate relative to theframe to positions on each side of said median position in which anangle is formed by the diaphragm at its attachment with the framerelative to the plane of the frame and in which the diaphragm isoutwardly bulged forming a pocket under tension greater than the initialtension.
 2. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 1, in combination witha floating body on which the forked frame is secured.
 3. A propulsionfin as claimed in claim 2, wherein the floating body is adapted to bepitched alternately nose-down towards the front and tail-down towardsthe rear causing the fin to oscillate to said positions therebyeffecting forward movement.
 4. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 3,further comprising a strip disposed along the rear edge of the diaphragmand forming a free flap.
 5. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 3, inwhich the diaphragm is attached to the frame by a tubular sleeve.
 6. Apropulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, in which said diaphragm comprisesat least one elastic portion allowing expansion thereof.
 7. A propulsionfin as claimed in claim 6, in which the diaphragm also comprises atleast one flexible portion.
 8. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 7,in which said elastic portion comprises an elastic fabric fixed to saidflexible portion.
 9. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 7, in whichsaid elastic portion comprises at least one elastic thread connection.10. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 6, in which a panel of thediaphragm is pivotally mounted on one portion of said frame and coupledby elastic lacing to another portion of said frame.
 11. A propulsion finas claimed in claim 6, in which said diaphragm is entirely elastic. 12.A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, in which said fin is of thecaudal type in which the forked frame is joined to a central shaft forsecuring the frame to said floating body and in which each branch of thefork has a main portion extending from the shaft laterally andrearwardly and a rear projecting terminal portion substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the floating body.
 13. A propulsion fin asclaimed in claim 12, in which said main portion is substantially linear.14. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 12, in which said main portionis curved.
 15. A propulsion fin as claimed in claim 1, in which said finis of the lateral type, and in which supporting means is associated withsaid frame for stretching said diaphragm.
 16. A propulsion fin asclaimed in claim 2, in which said fin is of the lateral type and furthercomprising a supporting means associated with said floating body andadapted to stretch said diaphragm.
 17. A floating body provided with atleast one propulsion fin as claimed in claim 2, to be ridden astride bya user, said body having a generally domed shaped similar to that of aquarter of an orange, with a raised central portion straddled by theuser and two lower end portions to remain continuously submerged duringthe course of the oscillations imparted by the user to said floatingbody for the forward propulsion of said body.
 18. A floating body asclaimed in claim 17, and further comprising, at the bottom of itscentral portion, two long lateral profiled members parallel to thelongitudinal axis of floating body providing footrests and guiding andstabilizing said body.